South Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed quarter of a million

Between the last two censuses, the population of South Gloucestershire increased by 7.0%, from almost 246,000 to 263,000.

The addition of about 17,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Gloucestershire was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Gloucestershire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Gloucestershire increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This affluent area had a lower average age than the South West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 8,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 8,000.

About 16% of people in South Gloucestershire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

South Gloucestershire saw the South West's largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 and over in South Gloucestershire said they were married, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 26% to 30%.

Across the region, Isles of Scilly saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of married people (from 59% in 2001 to 54% in 2011).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

South Gloucestershire saw the South West's largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.4%) households in South Gloucestershire had a single parent, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 45% to 39%.

Across the region, Wiltshire saw the next largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households (from 7.3% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011).

During this period, South Gloucestershire overtook 10 local authority areas, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Somerset West and Taunton, to become the South West local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of single-parent households.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Gloucestershire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 33% said they had no religion. An increase from 19% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in South Gloucestershire.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18% to 32%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 64% of those who disclosed their religion in South Gloucestershire said they were Christian, down from 80% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Sikh, up from 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 8.0% to 8.0% between the last two censuses.

In South Gloucestershire, 8.0% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In South West the percentage was 8.5% and across England the percentage was 7.7%.

The population without a religion in South Gloucestershire increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Gloucestershire

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.3%, while the percentage of South Gloucestershire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Gloucestershire that rented privately increased from 6.3% to 14% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 9.8%, while the percentage of South Gloucestershire households that owned their home decreased from 82% to 75%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in South Gloucestershire increased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Gloucestershire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Gloucestershire decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Gloucestershire decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that were employed decreased from 61% to 59% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 1.8% in 2001. The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that were self-employed increased from 8.0% to 8.9%.

The proportion of employed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (which remained close to 53%). Across England, the percentage increased from 53% to 52%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in South Gloucestershire

In 2011, 2.5% of the local population said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups. An increase from 1.1% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in South Gloucestershire.

Across the South West, the percentage of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.0% to 2.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 95% of people in South Gloucestershire said they were from the White ethnic groups, down from 98% in 2001. About 1.4% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 0.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 0.4% to 0.8% between the last two censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in South Gloucestershire increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in South Gloucestershire with children remained close to 31% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (60%) households had no children, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage of households in South Gloucestershire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.8% to 9.9%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 28% in 2001 to 27% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in South Gloucestershire remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Gloucestershire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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